Now as this outward man desires not onely life, and being, but also health and cheerfulness in all the living motions and actions thereof: So, (and much more ten thousand fold) requires the inward and spirituall man, an healthfull and cheerfull temper. For as the Lord loveth a cheerfull giver: So loves he also a cheerfull Preacher, a chearfull hearer, a chearfull prayer, and a chearfull sufferer for his Name sake: He loves that the shoes of preparation be on our feet ready to run (all wayes and weathers) the paths of his Commandments: That like a vessel our leaks be stopt, and our whole soul be ready in an holy trim, and tightness, for all his holy employments of us in the greatest tempests: that like heavenly souldiers, our Arms be fixt, or like an Instrument, the strings of our affections and parts be all in tune, to make heavenly musick in the holy ears of our heavenly Lord and King.
Tis true, as it is between a loving couple, (and as it was in the Church at Ephesus) it is not easie to keep in the first flame of Love, fresh and equall, although the fire of the truth and sinceritie of marriage love never die, or be extinguished.
Spirituall distempers.
It is true that Paul cries out (how much more may we) O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?
Tis true, that sometimes corruption and Satan surprize and carry away the strongest champions of Christ Jesus, as slaves and captives for a time, untill Christ Jesus rescue, redeem and ransome, by giving repentance unto his Israel, as he did to David, Peter, &c. as Abraham rescued Lot, and as David recovered all his precious captives, led slaves away from Ziklag.
I am far therefore from passing the sentence of death upon the least of the little ones of Jesus, (notwithstanding their spirituall weaknes, and sicknesses) in whom the least spark or breathing of the spirit of Life can be discerned.
And I desire to see and lament the spirituall sicknesses, and diseases of mine own and others Spirits, which yet are not unto death (as Christ Jesus spake of Lazarus) but for the glory of God, in the fall and rising of his servants.
Distinction between spirituall death, spirituall sickness and spirituall weakness
Yea as Paul distinguisheth of Gods afflicting hand on his Saints at Corinth, so must I distinguish, between these three, death, sicknes and weakness: Every sicknes of Gods Children is not a death, for the inner man cannot die, no more then Christ himself. Rom: 6.
Again, every weaknes is not a sicknes, for some are weak, little ones in the knowledge and love of Christ, while others are grown to be strong and aged in Christ Jesus; Yea, the strongest and oldest Souldiers of Christ Jesus, who have not thought their dearest Heartblood to dear for such a Lord and Master, have yet been troubled with some weaknes, and fits of spirituall distempers: Weaknes in their Eyes is not discerning aright the mind of Christ Jesus, weaknes in their hands, and Feet, hindring their spirituall chearfulnes, and activity in Christs wayes, which weaknesses yet have not brought them to a down right halting in Christianity.